Pero Rodrigues da Fonseca did not forget what Vasco Porcalho had told him in his letter. He rode out from Olivença with 200 horsemen and 300 foot soldiers, advancing one night to set an ambush near São Brás do Mosteiro, a full league from Alandroal. When it was morning he spoke to his men as follows: ‘My friends, I would like to capture this town, and kill or capture those who dwell in it. If we can do it, as is my wish, we will do good service and give pleasure to the King of Castile, and we will succeed in all our raids. Since Vasco Porcalho killed some of the Portuguese the other day in an ambush that he set up, let us proceed in the following way. If those who go forward in the raid take some prisoners or anything else, they should pretend that they are attacking Terena. Some of the others should remain in front of the town, engaging our enemies as cautiously as they can. If they cannot find anything to capture, they should draw them as far away from the town as they can and inform us as secretly as possible. Once they are drawn away from the town, I and these squires will position ourselves between them and the town. Whoever recognises Pero Rodrigues of Alandroal should make every effort to capture him, and kill as many of the others as he can. For if he is captured, he will surrender the town at once, or else I will cut off his head at the town gate.’

The others, hearing these words, said that the plan was very good, but that it seemed to them wise to let Vasco Porcalho know, as he was well supplied with men and thus it would be much better and safer for him, Pero Rodrigues da Fonseca.

Pero Rodrigues da Fonseca said that he did not like the idea, because he wanted the honour for himself and for them. ‘For today we will burn the gate of the town’, he said, ‘and after it is in our power, he will learn of it, and I do not wish it any other way.